Tansy patches in August

 1) Number 1 on the charts in August 50 years ago, "Jive Talkin'" was originally called "Drive Talkin',"because it was inspired by the "chunka-chunka" sound the Bee Gees' car made as it rolled over the bridge from Biscayne Bay to Miami every morning. Tell us about a drive you make regularly. What do you love, or hate, about it? 

I drive to work every day and I both love and don't love my commute. I have to drive through Salem, MA which is absolutely crazy with tourists! September and October are the worst and my commute time doubles during those months. Once I'm in Beverly, which is the town I work in, I drive past the beautiful Dane Street beach and sometimes I even have enough time to pull over and walk the beach before work!

2) Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb always enjoyed singing together and as kids, practiced their harmonies in the bathroom because that's where the acoustics were best. Do you sing in the shower?

I absolutely sing in the shower! I sing all day! I love singing. My granddaughter loves singing as well and so did my mother but neither of my daughters do. 

3) Early in their career, the brothers wrote and recorded a radio jingle for Coca Cola. If we were to peer into your refrigerator right now, would we find any carbonated beverages? 

I almost never have any kind of soda. Every great once in a while if I'm not feeling well I will have some gingerale. Or, in the summer I may have one or two root beers. 

4) Though their sound depended on tight harmonies, all three Bee Gees were heavy smokers, which is bad for the throat. Do you smoke? Are there smokers/vapers in your life?

No. I don't smoke and neither does my husband or anyone else in my family. I can't remember the last time I was around someone who smoked. Gross.

5) Robin Gibb agreed to perform on the CD Sesame Street Fever so his kids could meet Cookie Monster. Who is your favorite Muppet? 

I have a soft spot for Grover. I'm tired of Elmo.

6) In addition to younger brother Andy, who also scored hit records, the Bee Gees have a sister, Lesley. Unlike her siblings, she didn't go into show business. Instead she became a dog breeder. Tell us about a dog who holds a special place in your heart. 

When my daughters were little we had a dog named Obie. She was a love. My mother had a dog named Sally that was also a love. 

Let's look at the summer of 1975.

7) That summer, producer Lorne Michaels was auditioning talent for the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. This band of comedic performers would premiere that October in a new show called Saturday Night Live. In the days before DVRs and streaming, Saturday Night Live was considered "appointment television," a show you wanted to catch when it aired so you made sure you were in front of a TV to hear "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" Is there a show you go out of your way to watch when it airs? Or is most of your viewing either recorded or streamed? 

I almost never watch TV. I can't even remember the last time I turned it on. When I do watch it's normally something I have been wanting to see and I stream it. I am old enough to remember turning on the TV to watch the original Saturday Night Live though.

8) The top movie at the box office that summer was Jaws. Have you seen it? 

I watched in the movie theatre of my small town. My town, Marblehead, MA, was actually considered for the setting before they settled on Martha's Vineyard. I remember not wanting to go into the water at the beach that summer.

9) In 1975, Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles was having a career season and won the second of his three Cy Young Awards. In 2012 he put all three trophies up for auction. As proud as he was of the awards, he said, "My priorities have changed," and the money would help pay for college for his grandchildren. Think about your belongings. Is there anything you would never part with at any price?

I love to have my things and the things that have been passed down to me around me. When my mother passed away in 2021 I gave many items to my daughters. None of us are taking anything with us when we go so we may as well give it away while we're here.

Saturday 9